ABN Amro plans to require employees to work from the office for at least three days a week as part of its latest collective bargaining negotiations.
The move represents a notable shift from the flexible remote work policies adopted across the Dutch banking sector since 2020.
Office mandates return to Zuidas
Management at the financial institution believes that bringing staff back to the building will boost internal productivity and strengthen team cohesion.
Reports suggest the push stems from Chief Executive Officer Marguerite Bérard, who took over in early 2025 and noticed quiet corridors at the bank’s headquarters in the Zuidas business district.
Some staff members have also raised internal concerns about remote working habits, pointing to colleagues missing online meetings during the week.
Reorganization brings thousands of layoffs
The office attendance push comes alongside a ongoing reorganization effort aimed at eliminating 5,000 positions overall across the company.
The bank eliminated over 250 positions in the second quarter, bringing the total number of reductions to roughly 2,250 jobs since restructuring began.
Despite cutting external staff positions, operational expenses have remained largely flat due to salary increases and broader economic inflation.
Rising profits and artificial intelligence
The bank is increasingly turning to modern technology to handle administrative workflows as overall headcount drops.
Management recently deployed artificial intelligence systems across various operations, including client service voice bots and internal compliance tools.
Even with ongoing restructuring, quarterly net profits reached 781 million euros, supported by strong performance in commercial loans and regional mortgages.
